A hydrogen tank detonated Monday and injured one person at a Manassas weapons manufacturer, according to Prince William County fire and rescue officials.

An air pressure vessel shot up though the roof of the building, which is near George Mason University’s Manassas campus and the county’s governor’s school, shortly before noon. The vessel then dropped back into the UTRON building at 9441 Innovation Dr. UTRON’s Web site describes research on site into high-velocity gun launch technologies for military clients.

Patty Prince, a city of Manassas spokeswoman, said the injury has been described as minor.

HAZMAT teams were investigating and other experts were evaluating whether the building was structurally sound after the explosion, said Kim Hylander of the fire and rescue department.

Susan Svrluga is a reporter for the Washington Post, covering higher education for the Grade Point blog.

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